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Riverhead, NY Sept. 6th
By Bob Finan
Photo Tom Morris Racing Photography
There is nothing like a good old-fashioned NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour tussle on a quarter mile bullring with huge championship implications hanging in the balance. That is the scenario awaiting Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville and Ron Silk of Norwalk heading to Riverhead Raceway for the Eddie Partridge 256 Saturday September 14th. For the two most recent WMT champions Saturday’s race will be Déjà vu all over again after they waged a titanic battle during last year’s 256 prior to Justin Bonsignore taking the victory.
While the win last September held personal significance for Justin Bonsignore by tying Mike Ewanitsko on top of the Riverhead all-time WMT win list at 11, his 2023 championship aspirations would fall short to Ron Silk in the end. The duel, and theater provided by Bonsignore and Silk left the fans on hand or watching on Flo Racing was legendary. Bumer shots, clanging nerf bars, crossing each other over off the corners, all the while Silk’s rear brake rotors cherry red from intense heat. In the final laps Silk would fade to third when local rising talent Mark Stewart of Riverhead snuck by for runner-up honors, while Bonsignore celebrated.
As the haulers enter Riverhead Raceway September 14th, Bonsignore leads Silk by 5 points, with Silk perhaps holding the most recent edge as the most recent WMT winner at the bullring. In May, Ron found his way to victory lane at Riverhead when he topped Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa and Bonsignore scoring his 2nd career WMT Riverhead win. Beers sits fourth in the 2024 rankings entering the 256, 45 markers back of Bonsignore.
The hottest WMT driver heading to Long Island is Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY who will be seeking his third consecutive win on tour. Emerling, a one-time Riverhead victor comes to the 256 with wins at Thompson Motorsports Park and the Oswego Speedway, pulling him to within 24-points of the WMT championship lead. Fifth place WMT driver Craig Lutz of Miller Place recently tuned up for the 256 with a runner-up finish in the Cecil Palm Tree 66 in August and is primed for his first Riverhead WMT win, fifth overall
The Catalano brothers of Ontario, NY are headed south with Trevor, Tommy and Tyler all hoping for success as are 2024 WMT regulars Tim Connolly of Endicott, NY, local favorite Ken Heagy of Riverhead and Melissa Fifield of Wakefield, NH.
While the official NASCAR entry list for the Eddie Partridge 256 has yet to be released, Boehler Motorsports announced Friday, Tyler Rypkema of Owego NY would complete the 2024 season as their driver. Michael Boehler enters the 256 fifth in the WMT Owners standings, just two points ahead of Russell Goodale in sixth. Jake Johnson who had been driving the Boehler Old Blue machine stepped away from the ride after the midweek Thompson event.
Of the 29 cars that made up the Miller Lite Tribute to Wayne Anderson 200 field in May, a dozen came from the Riverhead Raceway Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series roster. JB Fortin of Holtsville and JR Bertuccio of Centereach reaped the best finishes among the 12, placing fourth and fifth. Defending track champion John Beatty Jr of Merrick, was 8th, Mark Stewart came home 10th.
Chris Young of Calverton was just outside the top ten in 11th, as was 12th place Justin Brown of Manorville. The remaining Riverhead drivers who had hoped for a better day were Roger Turbush of Riverhead, Jack Handley of Medford, Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead, Timmy Solomito of Islip, Matt Brode of East Islip and Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches. How many of these teams return for the 256 will be known when the entry list provided by NASCAR is released.
WMT final practice will run from 3:30 pm through 4:15 pm, qualifying is at 6:00 pm. The Eddie Partridge 256 is scheduled to take the green at 8:00 pm. The Riverhead Raceway Late Models, Blunderbusts, Street Stocks, and Eddie Partridge Vintage All-Stars compliment the WMT program. Riverhead divisions practice from 2:00 -3:10 pm, with qualifying at 4:30 pm.
Campers are welcome, free of charge at Riverhead Raceway. There are no hook-ups with camping contained to the area running behind the pit area.
Further information can be obtained at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
